Fernilda lowered Master Ja'vik to the ground, gently removing her spear from his chest. She had felt the magic leave him like a cold breeze and prayed to the spirits that his parting gift would do as he'd predicted and turn the tide of the battle.

She stood up and looked around. The tower seemed too cold and bare without the runes lighting it up. The tree was a sharp spot of color and she walked over to it, running her hands over its rough bark.

To her surprise the bark moved, splitting open and Hickory stepped out. The burns from the battle were gone and he looked at her with gold eyes, his face almost sheepish.

Fernilda gave him a smile. "I thought you were done with the mortal world for a while?"

Hickory shook his head, a few catkins falling from his white curls. "I still have some things I must do...and I'd like to make this time something to speak of well. I owe it to him."

For a moment Fernilda thought he meant the Arch Mage, but Hickory stared at his hand and she realized he meant the human soul he carried. She reached out for the pale hand. "Well then, let's go make some happy stories."

Slowly and with a child-like uncertainty, Hickory took her hand. "Where to?" she asked.

Hickory closed his eyes, the wind tousling his hair. He frowned, his eyes opening a startling orange. "The queen is dead."

Fenrilda nearly let go of him. "They did it," she breathed.

"I must see."

Hickory hardly waited for her nod before whisking them away. The queen's brother was alone with the body, sitting across from it against the wall, his sword resting on his knees. When Hickory and Fernilda materialized he stood up, pointing the blade at them.

"Wait!" Fernilda shouted as Fenrin charged Hickory.

The sword moved fast but the wooden floorboards sprouted and a vine tangled around the blade holding it harmlessly in place. Fenrilda stepped between them.

"He's not our enemy anymore," she said firmly and although Fenrin ripped the blade free, he lowered it. He gave Hickory a suspicious glance as he knelt beside the queen’s body.

"I thank you for the help you gave, no matter your reasons for doing so," Hickory said solemnly to the body before standing again.

"Matius, you shouldn't move!" The princess's voice sounded out muffled through the door which after a moment burst open. The Third Apprentice, drenched in blood half-walked, half-fell in.

"I....sensed magic. Fernilda....?"

He collapsed on his knees and Fernilda rushed over. There were two cuts on his face and she healed them quickly searching him for the wound that would account for his state. His robe was slashed in the middle, the skin beneath puckered with hastily done magic.

"Third Apprentice, are you injured?" she asked, trying to get Matius’ glazing blue eyes to focus.

Fenrin sheathed his sword and reached down, pulling Matius' arm over his shoulder and easily holding the man up. "He's fine. Healed himself and Kiana though it took every drop of magic he had plus mine. He just needs some rest."

Fiona appeared in the door. "Sorry, Uncle I should've kept a better eye on him."

Fenrin passed the dazed mage to his niece who gave Hickory a curious glance. He stared back at her, his eyes swirling to green.

"Apparently he's on our side now," Fenrin explained, "how's Kiana?"

"Still unconscious. Oh! High Druid, do you think you could help? Her heart is beating but she's so still..."

Fernilda nodded and followed the princess. Hickory stayed right behind her. The next room was blood splattered and by the door the King of Valhym sat leaning back on a wooden chair above the Duskar assassin he’d vouched for. With Fiona's anxious glance on her, Fenrilda knelt by the unconscious girl and placed a hand on her forehead.

Her heart did indeed beat faintly. Once more, Matius's quick magic had stopped the worst but the healing was poorly done. Fixing bad healing was a time consuming and delicate process. Her eyebrows furrowed as she concentrated.

Hickory reached down and touched Kiana too and the mess of tissue and patched muscles sorted themselves out quickly. With gasp, the girl opened her eyes.

As she sat up, the princess barreled into her, her arms holding her tightly. "Kiana, don't scare me like that!" she said breathlessly.

Kiana eyed the room with a calculating gaze. She glanced from Hickory to Fernilda and then to Fenrin who was once more holding Matius who managed a weak smile.

When her eyes turned to the sitting king she said with concern, "What's wrong with with father, Fiona?"

Fiona pulled back. "What do you mean?"

Eyes wide with alarm, Kiana pushed the princess off her and touched the king's shoulder. He slumped over and Kiana barely caught him before he fell off the chair. Fiona helped her lower him to the floor and Fernilda step closer with concern.

"Father? Father?" Fiona frantically checked her father's pulse and looked him over.

Kiana bit her lip, her eyes unfocused. "I think I remember...his leg, check his leg."

Fernilda pushed forward, the king's pants leg was indeed stained with blood, the color hard to see on the dark cloth. She pulled it up and there was a small puncture wound, rimmed with black and purpling skin, the veins dark and reaching out from the pinprick.

"What's wrong with him?" Fiona asked, his voice high pitched with worry.

Fernilda held up a glowing hand but frowned, "I can heal the wound but magic cannot do anything to stop poison."

Fiona shot a hateful glance at the room where her mother's body lay before moving to inspect the wound closer.

Her voice more calm and hard, she ordered, "Kiana find the needle. It might help me narrow it down but be careful not to touch it with your hands."

Kiana took some albeit halting steps into the room before pausing and returning to the king. She forced the hand of his left fist open, revealing the bloodied needle.

Fiona examined it and the burn-like mark it'd left on the king's palm.

"Bloodfire root. I'm sure of it. If she'd hit his artery...but she didn't so there might still be time. I need...I need..."

The princess glanced about and Kiana put a calming hand on her shoulder. "What do you need?"

Fiona gave her a pained look. "I need Hawthorn and more Bloodfire root. The antidote needs Starbloom flowers too but they only grow in the Giantfells of Valhym!"

"Starbloom?" Hickory's voice was curious and his eyes flashed white and blue.

Fiona turned to him. "Yes! Do you have some?"

Hickory gave her an amused smile and stretched out his hand. "She is my sister," he said simply and white flowers fell from his fingertips.

Reverently Fiona gathered the blooms and Hickory provided her with Hawthorn and Bloodfire root as well. With a botanist's practiced hand, Fiona carefully crushed the berries and placed them on her father's tongue.

The High Druid, fae, Third Apprentice, ex-assassin, and the queen's brother all followed Fiona's orders as she sent them to find bowls, boil water, fetch towels as she worked to save the King of Valhym.

When Fiona finished administering her antidote, she waited anxiously at her father's side. The sun set and after hours ticked by, a messenger found them and told them the enemy forces had returned to their ships. After the messenger left, the king began to shake and convulse. Fernilda helped Fiona give him water and wipe his sweating brow.

The fever broke as quickly as it'd come and Fernilda sensed the worst was over. She stood up and looked over the group. Matius was fast asleep and Fenrin seemed lost in contemplation. The girls murmured to each other by the king’s side and Hickory watched them all with a curious expression. Fernilda walked over to him and whispered, "Strange group, isn't it?"

Hickory nodded. "It is one thing I can say of my time so far. I have seen far more strange people and far more of this world than I thought I would have. I am glad I came."

"Me too, but I think we'd best inform the new Arch Mage and be on our way."

The changeling nodded but Fenrin cocked his head. "New Arch Mage?"

Sadly, Fernilda nodded. "Master Ja'vik is dead. He died so that his magic might pass on to his apprentice."

Fenrin's eyes widened. "So that's what that was. I'm sorry to hear about his death though. Matius will take it hard, the Arch Mage was his father, you know."

Fernilda raised an eyebrow and Fenrin added, "Adopted obviously. You know I never did ever hear that whole story."

"Well, it's not my place to pry, but I wouldn't worry too much about the Third Apprentice...or whichever one he is now. I believe he knew it was going to happen."

Fenrin hummed and glanced at his sleeping friend before giving Fernilda a nod. "Thank you, for everything."

"My pleasure."

Hickory put a hand on her shoulder and they flew out the window in the beginning of their long journey home.